Here's How Installing Panel-Ready Appliances Can Boost Your Home's Value

If you're aiming for a luxurious touch for your kitchen, panel-ready appliances may provide the high-end look you've been craving. Popular in many luxury markets, panel-ready appliances have become a trendy addition to kitchen interiors, providing a more seamless look that feels custom, intentional, and well integrated. Panel-ready appliances differ from ordinary appliances because they are designed to have a custom panel fitted to the front that perfectly matches your existing cabinetry. Most notable for refrigerators and dishwashers, these panels "hide" your traditional kitchen appliance and offer a more seamless and smooth look to your kitchen. With much debate around achieving a high-end appearance in one of the most-used spaces of the home, panel-ready appliances are one of the best alternatives to stainless steel appliances that still look sleek.

It's possible that panel-ready appliances could boost your home's value. In some markets, like Los Angeles, custom kitchen designs featuring slick layouts are trendy and highly sought by buyers. However, depending on your local area and market trends, this may not be the best investment. As a more expensive kitchen remodel, panel-ready appliances may not appeal to all buyers since a boost to your home's value could impact the desirability of your property. While many are wondering if stainless steel appliances are going out of style, replaced by alternatives like panel-ready or integrated appliances, the answer is that it's dependent upon your local market.

If you're currently planning a kitchen remodel, you may be interested to know that data from Remodeling Magazine's 2024 Cost vs. Value Report shows minor and midrange remodels recoup better returns than upscale major kitchen remodels. Therefore, panel-ready appliances may not give you the best return on investment. Still, many homeowners favor the aesthetic appeal and visually seamless look of panel-ready appliances. These appliances are highly customizable to suit any design style. Additionally, people prefer that they are easy to maintain since you can clean them as you would any other cabinetry. Further, they can enhance the look of smaller kitchens, allowing them to appear more spacious and curated.

The greatest downside of panel-ready appliances is the steep cost. You can expect to pay an additional $500 to $1000 extra, per appliance, for it to be panel-ready. Another downside is that some trendy kitchen appliances we'll be seeing more of in homes everywhere, like smart technology, may not be compatible with panel-ready features, where a screen could impede the seamless flow of cabinetry. Another concern often expressed with panel-ready refrigerators is that they are not as deep as traditional alternatives, so as to better blend in with cabinetry. Further, panel-ready dishwashers can present wear on the cabinet finish due to contact with excess water over time.

Many homeowners dislike the obstructive look of refrigerators and dishwashers in their kitchens. To combat this, trends to hide the dishwasher have spiked, with many social media creators sharing their tips and tricks for making the appliance appear more integrated. One way homeowners are tackling this is by DIYing their own panel-ready dishwasher. Taking the front panel off of your dishwasher, removing the handle, using screws to attach a matching cabinet panel to the front, painting the ensemble, adding appliance pulls, and reassembling the dishwasher is a go-to for some. This DIY project could save you thousands and could be achieved in an afternoon. Just be sure to purchase a cabinet panel that matches the texture and tone of your other cabinetry.

Others DIY their own cabinet panel by using plywood and wood trim. Rather than using screws, some have opted for construction adhesive instead, attaching the DIY panel to their dishwasher front in much the same way. For renters, a less permanent option to hide your appliances is to buy peel-and-stick wallpaper that can adhere to the existing fronts of the appliances to create the same seamless look on a budget.